Stapling machine



Jan. 28, 1930. H. G. ALLEN STAPLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 28, I930. HUG. ALLEN 1,744,715

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 %V////// A A E- kw g m N 3% Q .5 3 Q Q i Q R 13W mV////////// E, AY IM 15%" gfi W &

Jan. 28, 1930.

H. G. ALLEN STAPLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Jan. 28, 1930.. H ALLEN STAPLINGYMACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 4, 1926 mm 9w Q. Mg

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ff W z W a My wwmlaw. kw mm Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOWARD G. ALLEN, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 MORRISON STITCHER- CORPORATION, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK STAPLING MACHINE Application filed October 4, 1926. Serial No. 139,248.

This invention relates to a wire stitcher or stapling machine which is more particularly intended for connecting paper sheets by means of flat wire staples, although the same may also be utilized for connecting other articles and also produce stitches or staples of wire which is round or other form in cross section.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a new form of cutting mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, on a reduced scale, of the stapling mechanism embodying my improvements. Figures 2 and 3 are elevations of the same viewed from the left and right sides thereof, respectively. Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary vertical sections taken on line k7, Fig. 8, but showing different relative position of the parts. Figure 8 is a front elevation, partly in section of the stapling mechanism, on an enlarged scale, and showing the position of the parts when the wire is fed through the former shoe or ans vil. Figure 9 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the formation of the staple is completed. Figures 10 and 11 fragmentary horizontal section taken on line' 1212, Fig. 8. Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 1313, Fig. 4. Figures 14 to 23 are perspective views of the former slide, thickness adapting bar, driver bar, driver, anvil slide, looking or coupling key, locking plate, former bar and anvil, knife block, and wire guide block, respectively. Figure 24 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 24--24, Fig. 8.

Similar characters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the draw m s.

The machine shown in the drawings isdesigned to connect parts of the work such as the several sheets 25 of a book, pamphlet, or similar article, by flat wire staples while the article is resting on a table 26 or similar support, each of said staples consisting of a cross bar 27 adapted to engage the upper side of the article and front and rear legs 28, 29,

projecting from the advancing and trailing end of said cross bar and adapted to be driven through the article and clinched with their free ends against the underside of the work. The wire stock for these staples may be fed to the machine from any suitable source and 1 by various means, and the clinching of the legs against the underside of the work being '-:s,titched may also be effected by a clinching cal guideway 35 is formed in which a former slide 36 reciprocates vertically. This former slide is provided with a rearwardly projectmg guide pin 37 which is arranged in a vertical uide slot 38 in the rear plate 30, as shown in igs. 4-7. The right hand edge of the former slide engages with the right flange 32 of the guide head and adjacent to the left edge of the former slide and the corresponding head flange 33 is arranged a guideway 39 which receives a vertically movable controlling or adapter slide or bar 40. The latter is yieldingly held in its lowered position by a spring 41 interposed between the upper end of the adapter slide and a downwardly facing shoulder 42 on'the adjacent part of the head flange 33, and this downward movement of the adapter slide is limited by a stop pin 43 arranged on the adapter slide and engaging with the lower end of a vertical slot 44 in the rear head plate 30, as shown in Fig. 24.

On opposite sides of its lower end the former slide is provided with two bending horns or former arms 45,46 which are spaced apart and serve to bend the front and rear legs 28, 29 of eachstaple downwardly relatively to the cross bar 27 thereof. The lower face 47 of the former slide between the bending horns or arms 45, 46 is arranged higher than the lower ends of these arms and is bevelled or inclined rearwardly, as shown in Figs. 4-7. I

The bevelled face or end 47 of the former slide while in its highest position is engaged by the bevelled rear'face or side 48 of an anvil or shoe 49 which reciprocates vertically and also is movable forwardly out of and backwardly into the path of the former slide and serves to support the wire while the same is fed into the working position, and also supports the wire while a staple length of the same is cut off and the same is formed into a staple and driven through the article to be bound. While the anvil or shoe is in its backward position and engaging its bevelled rear side 48 with the bevelled lower end of the former slide the staple wire is fed transversely through a slot or recess 50 in the anvil, which recess extends from the left inlet to the right outlet side of the anvil and opens rearwardly through the bevelled face 48 thereof.

The numeral 51 represents a driver which is adapted to drive the staple through work or members of the article to be connected. This driver in its preferred form consists of a plate which is guided at its opposite vertical edges in ways 151, 151 on the inner sides of the former horns or arms and adapted to engage its lower end with the crossbar of the staple, the lower corners of this driver being extended to form lips 52 which bear against the corners of the staple and serve to hold the legs and cross bar in place while the staple is being driven. The driver is raised and lowered by a vertically reciprocating driver bar 53 which is arranged between the front side of the former slide and the rear side of a vertically movable anvil slide 54 which carries the anvil 49. The last mentioned slide engages with the inner or rear side of the front plate 31 of the supporting'head, frame or casing. The driver bar is permitted to move vertically independently of the former slide to a limited extent but during the last part of the upward movement of the driver ar a rearwardly projecting lifting pin 153 thereon engages with the upper end of a vertical slot 136 in the former slide and lifts the latter. The driver is connected with the driver bar by a horizontal'tongue or rib 55 arranged on the lower part of the rear side of the driver bar and engaging with a horizontal groove 56 in the upper part of the front side of the driver, as shown in Figs. 4 to 7. The anvil or shoe 49 is pivotally supported on the anvil slide by an arm 57 projecting upwardly from the front end of the anvil along the front side of the anvil slide and rovided with a hook 58 at its upper end whic engages with an opening or recess 59 in the anvil slide. The anvil is yieldingly held in its rearmost position and the hook of the anvil arm is yieldingly helcf in engagement with the openin of the anvil slide by a leaf spring 60 secure at its upper end to the front side of the front plate 31 while its lower end bears a ainst the front side of the anvil arm. The ront plate 31 is provided with a slot 61 for the passage of the anvil and its arm.

The wire 162 for the staples passes through an outer slotted guide 62, preferably of tubular form, then through a relatively stationary cutter 63 preferably of tubular form and having an inner cutting edge 64, then through the slot or recess of the anvil, and then into a guide recess 65 formed in the inner end of a guide block 66. The outer side of the left former horn or arm 46 has a removable cutter blade or knife 67 secured thereto which cooperates with the knife or cutter 63 for severing the wire in lengths to produce staples. For the purpose of enabling the cutter 63 and blade 67 to be adjusted relatively to each other when assembling the machine and for taking up wear the guide tube 62 and cutter 63 are mounted in a knife block 68. latter is guided for horizontal transverse movement in a guideway 69 on the lower left part of the supporting head, as shown in Fig. 2, and the same is pressed inwardly by a leaf spring 70 secured to the head and engaging with the outer end of the knife block, as shown in Figs. 1, 8-11. The inward movement of the knife block is 'adj usted so as to bring the inner end of the cutter 63 and the blade 67 into the proper relation, by a screw 71 arranged in an upwardly projecting lug 72 at the outer end of the knife block and bearing against the left side of the supporting head and a clamping nut 73 arranged on said screw and engaging said lug, as shown in Figs. 8-11. The wire guide block 66 is mounted so as to be capable of movement horizontally and transversely toward and from the outlet or right side of the anvil and into and out of the path of the right former arm 46. For this purpose the guide block is guided in a horizontal transverse guideway 74 on thelower right part of the head and the same is pressed inwardly by a leaf spring 75 secured at one end to the supporting head and hearing at its other end against the outer end of the guide block, as "shown' in Figs. 55-11. The inward movement The of this block under the action of this spring 1 is limited by a stop 76 on the upper side of this guide block engaging with the adjacent side of the supporting head, as shown in Fig. 8. When the guide block is in its innermost position the inner end thereof is close to the right side of the anvil and an inclined or bevelled face 77 on its upper inner corner is below the inclined or bevelled face 78 on the lower right corner of the right forming arm 45. It follows from this that when the former slide and arms descend the inclined face of the right former arm 45 engages the inclined face of the guide block and pushes the same laterally out of the path of the former arm 45, as shown in Figs. 9-11, in order to permit the staple drivin mech anism to perform its function. When the former slide and arms a ain ascend to their highest position the gui e block is again returned to its innermost position by the spring 75. For the purpose of directing the front end of the staple wire into the recess of the guide block and keeping the wire at the bottom of the recess in the anvil the rear inner corner of the recess in the guide block is bevelled, as shown at 79 in Figs. 12 and 23, 1 whereby the front end of the wire, if it should be slightly out of place rearwardly, will be deflected forwardly and caused to enter the recess in the guide block and hold the wire "properly in the bight of the recess. I

The left and right former arms convert the wire into staple form by bending those parts of the wire which project beyond the sides of the anvil downwardly and thereby form legs which are at right angles to the cross bar which is arranged in the recess in the anvil.

As shown in Fig. 13 the lower ends of the former arms 45, 46are in line horizontally and the slot or recess 50 in the anvil rises from its left inlet end toward its right outlet end. The relative arrangement of the ends of this recess, the lower ends of the former arms, the cutter blade on the left former arm and the cutter blade on the knife block is such that when the former slide descends the initial portion of this movement causes the right former arm 45 to first bend the right leg of the staple partly downward, as shown in Figs. 4 and 13, thereby clamping the wire between the anvil and former horns. Immediately. thereafter the cutter blade on the left former'horn or arm severs the length of the staple fromthe wire and this former arm bends the left leg of the staple downwardly and during the continued downward movement of both right and left former arms the bending of both legs of the staple against the corresponding sides of the anvil is completed, as shown in Figs. 5 and 9.- A By these means the use of separate elements for holding the wire in the anvil is avoided and the wire is properly formed and reliably held in position on the anvil preparatory to being driven into the work or material to be stitched or stapled, as shown in Figs. 6, 10 and 11.

Means are provided whereby during the descent of the driver bar it first carries with it the former slide, then the latter picks up the anvil slide and then the driver bar drops both the former and anvil slides and completes its downward movement independently of said slides, and during the upward movement of the driver bar the same efl'ects the 65 initial part of this movement alone, then picks up both the anvil and former slides and carries them upwardly in unison for a time, and then drops the anvil slide and only carries the former slide to the limit of its u ward travel. Although various means may e employed for this purpose those shown in the drawings are preferred and constructed as follows: i v

The numeral represents a rolling locking key which is adapted to couple the former slide either with the driverbar or with a relatively'stationary part of the frame or head. This rolling locking key preferably has the formof a roller which is arranged in an opening 81 on an upright flange 82 projecting forwardly from the left edge of the former slide and adapted to move transversely therein so as to project with its right half into a recess 83 in the driver bar or with its left half into a recess 84 in the controlling slide or adapter bar 40. The upper side of the recess in the driver bar is bevelled, as shown at 85 in Fig. 8, and the upper side of the recess inv the adapter bar is also bevelled, as shown at 86 in the same figure. When the driver bar is in its highest position as shown in Fig. 8 the roller 80 is arranged across the joint between the driver bar and the former slide and confined in this position by the opposing vertical edges of the adapter bar and the driver bar whereby this roller couples the driver bar and former slide and compels the same to move downwardly together during the first part of the downward movement of the driver bar.

'Upon reaching the middle part of its downward stroke the roller passes the recess 84 in the adapter bar and is forced with a wedge action into the same by the inclined face 85 of the driver bar so that this roller now crosses the joint between the former slide and the adapter bar and couples the same, whereby the driver bar isuncoupled from the former slide and completes its downward movement .independently of the former slide. During the first part of the upward movement of the driver bar the same moves alone. but when the same reaches the middle part of thismovement the pin 153 on the driver bar engages the upper end of the slot 136 in the former slide 36 so that the latter from now on moves with the driver bar to the upper end of its stroke. During such upward movement of the former slide the roller 80, due to its being pressed upwardly by the lower end of the recess 81 in the flange 82 of the former slide causes the inclined top 86 of the recess '84 to force this roller out of this recess and from the relatively stationary adapter. bar.-

During the downward movement of the driver bar 53 the. former slide 36 moves down- 'wardly with it until the pin 37 engages the pendently of the former slide and the pin 153 moves downwardly away from the upper end of the slot 136 in the former slide.

The numeral 87 represents a locking key which is adapted to couple the anvil slide either with the former slide or the stationary frame or head of the machine. This key slides transversely in a horizontal keyway 88 in the upper part of the rear side of the anvil slide and has an upper straight horizontal edge 89 while its lower right and left corners are bevelled, as shown at 90, 91. On the right side of the head the same is provided with a locking recess 92 which has an upper horizontal stop face 93 and a lower inclined shifting face 94. On its left side the former slide is provided with a bevelled face 95 at the upper end of its flange 82.

While the driver bar is in the upper part of its stroke the key 87 bearswitli its left end against the inner side of the flange 82 of the former slide while its right end engages with the recess 92 in the relatively stationary part of the head or frame, as shown in Fig. 8, whereby the anvil slide is held at rest. During the middle part of the downward stroke of the driver bar with the former slide the lower end 96 of the former slide flange 82 engages with an upwardly facing shoulder 97 on the left edge of the anvil slide and forces the latter downwardly. As the anvil slide starts downwardly with the former slide and driver bar the downward pressure of the bevelled right corner 90 of the locking key 87 against the stationary bevelled face 94 causes this key to be forced with a wedge action out of the recess 92 and into a position in which its left bevelled lower corner 91 engages the bevelled upper end 95 of the flange 82 on the former slide, as shown in Fig. 9, thereby uncoupling the anvil slide from the stationary head and permitting the same to move downwardly with the former slide until the latter reaches the lower end of its stroke. While the anvil slide and former slides are in their lowered position the key 87 is confined between the inner vertical edge of the relatively stationary adapter bar and the right flange or wall 32 of the head or frame, as shown in 'Figs. 9, 10 and 11, and remains in this position during the main part of the subsequent upward movement of the anvil slide with the former slide. The upward movement of the anvil slide is produced by the bevelled face 95 of the flange 82 on the former slide engaging with the left lower bevelled corner 91 of the key 87. During the middle partof the upward stroke of the driver bar, while carrying the former slide and anvil slides in the same direction, the upper end of the anvil slide strikes the stop 93 and is prevented from moving further in this direction and at the same time the bevelled face 95 of the former slide by en gaging the bevelled left corner 91 of the key 87 pushes the latter toward the right and into the recess 92 of the stationary head, as shown in Fig. 8, thereby uncoupling the anvil slide from the former slide and in stead coupling the anvil slide with a station my part of the machine where it is held at rest by the key 87 until the subsequent descent of the driver bar and former slide.

It will thus be noted that by these means the anvil slide and former slide are under positive control and only released and coupled with moving parts at definite predetermined periods.

A complete cycle of operations of the machine is as follows:

While the driver bar, forn'icr slide and anvil slide are in their highest position the anvil is in its rearmost position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 12. At this time the wire feeding mechanism feeds a length of wire forwardly through the knife block, the slot 50 in the anvil, and into the recess in the guide block, so that an amount'projects from the right side of the anvil equal to the amount projecting from the left side of the same, assuming that the resulting staple is to have legs of equal length. Should there be any tendency for the wire to point backwardly instead of straight ahead the front end of the wire will strike the bevelled face 79 of the guide block (35 and be deflected forwardly thereby and directed into the recess of the latter, whereby the wire is caused to lie next to the back of the slot 50 in the anvil, where it is in the proper position to be formed in to a staple.-

The driver bar and former slide now descend and during the first part of this downward movement the right former arm 45 strikes the wire close to the right side of the anvil and starts to bend the same downwardly, as shown in Figs. 4 and 13, and at the same time the right former arm engages its bevelled face 78 with the bevelled face 77 of the guide block and forces the latter away from the anvil with a wedge action, as shown in Fig. 13. Up to this time only the right leg of the staple has been partly bent While the left leg of the same is still unbent and remains connected with the stock of wire. This is due to the slot in the anvil rising from its inlet arm or horn 45 acts first on the right leg and begins bending the same, and a firm grip is obtained on the wire between the anvil and the right former arm so that the wire is under nositive control. Immediately thereafter the left former arm or horn comes into engagement with the left leg of the staple and first causes the wire to be severed between the knife on the knife block and the blade on the left former arm and then the left leg is bent downwardly along'the anvil at right angles to the cross bar of the staple at the same time that the right leg of the same is similarly bent downwardly along the anvil, andthe guide block 66 is pushed completely out of the path of the right former arm, as shown in Fig. 9..

As the former slide continues its descent the bevelled lower face 47 of the same strikes the bevelled rear end 48 of the anvil and moves the latter forwardly so that-the cross bar of the staple is withdrawn fromthe slot of the anvil and is arranged over the lower part of the bevel on the anvil, as shown in Fig. 5, while the legs of the staple are supported between the anvil and the right and left former arms, as shown in Fig. 9.

After the staple has been thus formed and withdrawn from the slot of the anvil the anvil slide is uncoupled from the frame or head and coupled with the former slide and carried downwardly with the latter and the driver bar until the lower ends of the former arms or horns engage with the top of the work or sheets of material which is being stapled or stitched. This downward movement of the anvil slideis effected by engagement ofthe shoulder 96 on the formerslide -with the shoulder 97 on the anvil slide, and

the uncoupling of the anvil slide from the frame is effected by'the bevelledface 94 on the head pushing the key 87 and out of the recess 92 in the head and over the bevelled face 95 of the former slide, as shown in Fig. 9.

When the former slide has descended to 80 apoint at which its arms or horns bear against the top of a pile of sheets or other work of predetermined thickness for which the machine has been set then the former slide is uncoupled from the driver bar so that the latter can continue its downward movement independently of the former and anvil slides for stripping the staple from the anvil and driving the same through the work. The

former slide is uncoupled at this time from 10 the driver bar by the movement of the key roller on the former slide laterally out of en gagement from the bevelled face 85 on the driver bar and intothe recess 84 of the control slide or adapter bar, as shown in Fig. 11.

15 The driver bar has a definite downward movement and if during such movement the former slide should be arrested too early, due to an excess thickness in the pile of sheets or material, then the roller 80 upon, entering the recess 84 of the adapter bar or control slide will lift the latter by engaging its bevelled face 86 against the resistance of the spring 41, as shown in Fig. 10, thereby adapting the machine to variations in thickness of materials to be stitched or bound without liability of unduly straining or breaking any of its parts.

As the driver bar continues its descent independently of the former andanvil slides 00 the driver, by engaging with-the cross bar of the staple, forces the same downwardly over the lower part of the inclined or slanting rear face of the anvil, as shown in Fig. 6, and finally forces the legs, downwardly through the -p material to the ullest extent, as shown in Fig.

7 During this time the anvil is gradually moved forwardly out of the path of the staple cross bar by the wedge action of the driver against the same, thereby supporting the cross bar and keeping the top of the staple from crumpling, which forward movement of the anvil is resisted by the spring 60, as shown in Fig. 7.

As previously explained,- the le s of the staple upon passing through the s eets are clinched against the underside of the same in any well known manner common to this art.

During the subsequent upward or return movement of. the driver bar the initial part of this movement is independent of the former and anvil slides until the pin'153 on the driver bar strikes the top of the slot 136 in the former slide, after which the latter is uncoupled from the adapter slide 40 and compelled to move upwardly with the driver bar to the limit of its u ward stroke.

The anvil slide is also compe led to move upwardl with the former, slide until the top or s oulder 154 anvil slide strikes the stop 93, at which time the bevel on the former slide pushes the key 87 into the recess 92 and uncouples the anvil slide from the former slide but connects the same with the main frame, as heretofore described.

The spring 60 during the ascent of the this means a close engagement of the cutter knives is assured for producing perfect severing of the wire notwithstanding any slight wear occurrin on the former slide which carries the mova le knife 67. By turning the adjusting screw 71 the position of the wire cuttin knives relatively to each other may be ad usted as desired.

side 98 which is yieldingly The guide block 66 is slidable transversely on the frame or len hwise of the wire and is actuated by the ormer which deflects it out of thepath of the former and the spring 75 holds the guide block path of the former, there y permitting of usin fine wires when necessary and also permittmg of making staples with comparatively short legs when this is required. I

Due to the use of aninclined slot in the anvil a leg is formed on the advancing end of the wire before the leg on the trailin art is cut off from the wire, thereby avoi mg the need of employing extra parts such 'eldingly in the as loose fingers, to hold the cut length of wire for the staple in the anvil before the same is bent into the form of a staple. The rearward movement of the anvil in the present case is limited by engagement of the toe of the anvil with the back late 30 of the frame or head, as shown by otted lines in Fig. 7 and by-full lines in Fig. 12, thereby materially simplifying the mechanism.

The provision of a hook 58 at the upper end of the anvil-bar for engaging with a recess in the anvil slide not only provides simple and durable means for pivotally connecting the anvil with the anvil slide but also permits-of readily detaching the anvil from the anvil slide and reassembling the same.

It will be noted that the downward movement of the former slide is not definite but will come down until it strikes the work. If the thickness of the work is just right and in accordance with the thickness for which the machine has been set then the controlling or adapting slide or bar will not be raised by engagement of the coupling roller 80 when the former slide reaches its lowermost position in engagement with the work. But if the former slide strikes the work before the coupling roller 80 has been moved out of the path of the driver bar and into the recess 84 of the controlling slide, then the driver bar, by the wedge action of its incline 85 against the roller 80, will force the same against the incline 86 of the controlling slide 40 and lift the latter sufficiently to permit this roller to' enter the recess 84, thereby compensating for .the failure of the former slide descending sufficiently to permit the roller 80 to uncouple the former slide from the driverbar. An automatic adaptation of the former slide to variations in the thickness of the work is therefore obtained without requiring any attention on the part of the operator, thereby avoiding the necessity of adjusting the head and saddle of the stapling machine relatively to each other for comparatively small differences in thickness of work. When, however, the thickness of the work exceeds the possible stroke of the controlling slide or adapter bar then the head and saddle of the stapling machine must be adjusted accordingly.

Obviously this mechanism will function without the automatic adaptation to different thickness of work but in such use the -ma-' chine must be first adjusted for a predetermined thickness of work and care must be exercised not to exceed this thickness, otherwise the mechanism is liable to be strained, jammed or damaged.

Inasmuch as the extent of descent of the anvil slide depends on the extent of downward movement of the former slide the automatic adjusting means serve to simultaneously control the operation ofthe downward stroke of' both of these slides.

;of said movable knife, and means for forming said wire length into a staple and driving the same into material.

2. A staplin machine comprising a frame, a cutter %lock guided on said frame, a relatively stationary knife mounted on said block and having a bevelled face, means for feeding wire through said block and stationary knife, a movable knife which is adapted to engage the bevelled face of said relatively stationary knife and deflect the sameand to sever a length from said wire, a spring for moving said block and holding said relatively stationary knife in the path of said movable knife, means for limiting the movement of said cutter block and relatively stationary knife toward said movable knife, and means for forming said wire length into a staple and driving the same into material.

3. A stapling machine comprising a frame, a cutter lock guided on said frame,

a relatively stationary knife mounted on said 7 block and having a bevelled face, means for feeding wire thiough said block and stationary knife, a movable knife which is adapted to engage the bevelled face of said relatively stationary knife and deflect the same and to sever a length from said wire, a spring for moving said block and holding said relatively stationary knife in the path of said movable knife, means for limiting the movement fo said cutter block and relatively stationary knife toward said movable knife, comprising a screw mounted on the cutter block and adapted to engage said frame, and means for forming said wire length into a staple and driving the same into material.

4. A stapling machine com rising a main frame, an anvil movable orwardly and backwardly and having a rearwardly open backwardly and having a rearwardly open- 1:,

ing slot, feeding means for feeding wire through said slot, means for severing-a length of said Wire on one side of said anvil, a movable guide block which receives the advancing end of the wire and which is mounted on said frame, a former havin horns for folding said Wire length over sai anvil and adapted to deflect said guide out of its path, and means for yieldingly holding said guide block in the path of said former, said former and guide block being provided with co-operating' bevelled faces.

6. A stapling'machine comprising a main frame, an anvil movable forwardly andbackwardly and having a rearwardly opening slot, feeding means for feeding wire through said slot, means for severing a length of said wire on one side of said anvil, a movable guide block which receives the advancing end of the wire and which is mounted on said frame, a former having horns for folding said wire length over said anvil and adapted to deflect said guide out of its path, and means for yieldingly hold. ing said guide block in the path of said former, said former and guide block being provided with co-operating bevelled faces, and said guide block being provided on its inner side with a recess which is adapted to receive the front end of said wire and an inclined face leading to the rear side of said recess for directing the wire from the anvil into said recess.

7. A stapling machine comprising a, frame, an anvil movable forwardly and backwardly relatively to said frame and pro-.

- vided with an inclined slot which opens rearwardly and which has a depressed inlet on one side of the anvil and an elevated outlet on the-opposite side of the same, means for feeding wire through said anvil, and a former having horns, one of which engages the wire at theelevated outlet of said slot and begins bendinga leg downwardly on the wire in advance of the other horn bending a leg on the wire at the depressed inlet of said slot.

8. A stapling machine comprising a frame, an anvil movable forwardly and backwardly relatively to said frame and provided with an inclined slot which opens rearwardly and which has a depressed inlet on one side of the anvil and an elevated outlet on the opposite side of the same, means for feeding wire through said anvil, a former having horns, one of which engages the wire. at the elevated outlet of said slot and begins bending a leg downwardly on the wire in advance of the other horn bending a leg on the wire 'at the depressed inlet of said slot, and cutting means co-operating with said former fOlSGV- cring the wire adjacent to the depressed inlet of said slot in advance of the bending action on the same.

9. A stapling machine comprising a frame,

an anvil movable forwardly and backwardly in said frame, a vertically movable anvil slide guided on said frame and provided with a recess, a bar carrying said anvil and provided with a real-wardly projecting hook engaging said recess, and means for forming a Wire into a staple on said anvil.

10. A stapling machine comprising a frame, an anvil movable forwardly and backwardly in said frame, a vertically movable anvil slide guided on said frame and provided with a recess, a bar carrying said anvil and provided with a rearwardly projecting hook engaging said recess, a spring mounted on said frame and engaging with said bar for holding its hook' in engagement with said recess and also yieldingly resisting the forward movement of said anvil, and means for forming a wire into a staple on said anvil.

11. A stapling machine comprising a relatively stationary head provided with a recess having an inclined upper face, a vertically movable driver bar guided on said head and provided with a downwardly inclined face, a vertically movable former slide guided on said head and provided with a transverse pocket and with a downwardly facing lifting shoal der, a lifting projection arranged on said driver bar and adapted to engage said lifting shoulder, and a coupling roller movable transversely in said pocket and adapted in one position of the former slide and .of the driver bar to engage one of its sides with the down wardly inclined face of said head and in another position of said former slide and driver bar to engage its opposite side with the inc'lined face of said driver bar.

' 12. A stapling machine comprising a relatively stationary head, a controllin member yieldably mounted on said head, a river'bar reciprocating vertically on said head, a former slide movable vertically on said head, and a coupling member movable transversely-on said former slide and adapted to have wedging engagement with said driver bar and controlling member.

13. A stapling machine comprising a relatively stationary head, a controlling member yieldably mounted on said head, a driver bar reciprocating vertically on said head, a former slide movable vertically on said head, a coupling member movable transversely on said former slide and adapted to have wedg ing engagement with said driver bar and concontrolling slide guided on the head and provided with a downwardly inclined face,'a

spring interposed between said head and con-' trolling slide and operating to yieldingly hold the latter in a depressed position, a vertically slot.

movable driver bar guided on said head and provided with a downwardly facing incline, a former slide guided on the head and having a transverse pocket, and a coupling roller movable transversely in said pocket and adapted to engage its opposite sides alternately with the inclined face of said driver bar and the inclined face of said controlling slide.

15. A stapling machine comprising a relatively stationary head, a vertically movable controlling slide guided on the head and provided with a downwardly inclined face, a spring interposed between said head and controlling slide and operating to yieldingly hold the latter in a depressed position, a vertically movable driver bar guided on said head and provided with a downwardly facing incline, a former slide guided on the head and having a transverse pocket, a coupling roller movable transversely in said pocket and adapted to engage its opposite sides alternately with the inclined face of said driver bar and the inclined face of said controlling slide, said former slide being provided witha slot, and a in arranged on said driver bar and adaptecl to engage the upper end of said 16. A stapling machine comprising a relatively stationary head, a vertically movable driver bar guided on said head, a vertically movable former slide, means for coupling and uncoupling said driver bar and former slide, a vertically movable anvil slide, and means for coupling and uncoupling said former slide and anvil slide.

17. A stapling machine comprising a relameans for coupling said anvil slide alternately with said former slide and withsaid head, comprising shoulders arranged respectively on said head and anvil slide and adapted to engage with each other during the upward movement of said anvil slide, shoulders arranged respectively on said former slide and anvil slide and adapted to engage during the downward movement of said former slide, a pocket arranged on said headv and having an inclined lower face, an upper inclined face arranged on the former slide, a transverse guide groovearranged in the anvil slide, and a coupling key slidable transversely in said groove and having its opposite ends bevelled and adapted to engage alternately with the inclined face of said head and the inclined face of said former slide.

' In testimony whereof I hereby aiiix my signature.

HOWARD GI ALLEN.

tively stationary head, a vertically movable former slide guided on said head, a vertically movable driver bar, means for alternately coupling said former slide with said driver bar and said head, a vertically movable anvil slide guided on said head, and means for alternately coupling said anvil slide with said former slide and with said head.

18. A stapling machine comprising a relatively stationary head, a vertically movable former slide guided on said head, a vertically movable anvil slide guided on said head, and means for con ling said anvil slide alternately with sai' formerslide and with said head, comprising shoulders arranged respectively on said head and anvil slide and adapted to engage with each other during the upward movement of said anvil slide, shoulders arranged respectively on said former slide and anvil slide and adapted to engage during the downward movement of said former slide, and a coupling member movable transversely on said anvil slide and adapted to have alternate wedging engagement with i said head and former slide..-

19; A stapling machine comprising a relatively stationa head, a vertically movable former shde guided on said head, a vertically movable anvil slide guided onv said head, and 

